Soul Friend • Spiritual Director

Invite Carl McColman to Your Community

An artful retreat leader, Carl guided us beautifully on a journey into the depths of our souls by way of storytelling, contemplative prayer and silence. Novices and experts alike walked away fully enriched and whole by resting in God and basking in the communal love Carl brought to this gathering.Linda FlynnDirector, Charlotte Spirituality Center, Charlotte, NC

Carl McColman

Author and speaker Carl McColman loves to share his passion for Christian prayer, contemplative living, interfaith dialogue, and other dimensions of spiritual wisdom with groups and communities of all sizes and shapes: young or old, clergy or lay, religious or secular, ecumenical or interspiritual. He enjoys working in a variety of settings: with local or regional gatherings of churches or other faith communities, in seminary or other academic contexts, as well as experiential or retreat circles.

Carl is an excellent communicator, respectful and deeply versed in contemplative spirituality. His knowledge of the subject is backed up by his willingness to share his personal journey lived in the context of his relationship with the Cistercian monks of Holy Spirit Abbey. It was an honour to have Carl with us in Dublin.Father Jim CaffreyParishes of St. Brigid, Killester and Our Lady of Mercy, Artane, Dublin, Ireland

Carl brings enthusiasm, a down-to-earth teaching style, and an appealing balance of playfulness and reverence to his presentations. He particularly enjoys opportunities to engage in dialogue with those who attend his retreats or workshops. His goal is to create a meaningful and safe space where each person present can tend to the nurture of his or her own soul. Whenever appropriate, Carl incorporates prayer and attentive silence into his program as a way of anchoring the words he speaks in an authentic and practical spirituality.

Listening to Carl was like being present while a grand-slam home run was taking place: articulate, warm, intelligent — an excellent presenter of some rather challenging concepts.Ruth HopkinsonWilliamsburg Unitarian Universalists, Williamsburg, VA

Here is a partial list of topics Carl enjoys sharing with communities like yours:

Many other possibilities — if you don’t see the topic you’re interested in, please ask.

Carl McColman used a wonderful mixture of silence, prayer, humor, and teaching as he led our retreat. He created a meaningful time for those who are new to the contemplative life as well as those with previous experience.The Reverend Katrina PaxsonSt. Paul United Methodist Church, Louisville, KY

Many of Carl’s presentations draw on the wisdom of the great Christian saints and mystics of the past, to celebrate the beauty of the spiritual life for seekers today.

Where appropriate, Carl is honored to offer homilies to faith communities, sharing how contemplative spirituality relates both to the scriptural lessons of the day — and to the challenges of everyday life.

Here’s a partial list of Carl’s upcoming events. Contact Carl (see form below) to find out if the dates you have in mind are available.

In our adult education program at the Shrine, Carl has consistently been one of our most popular speakers. He always draws a crowd.Nancy O'NeillAdult Education Coordinator, Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Atlanta, GA

Carl is an authentic and captivating retreat leader and author. The joy and love of God emanates through him, his writing and his teaching as he brings to life some of the deepest secrets of the Christian spiritual tradition. The Reverend Deedra RichColumbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, GA

Carl, thanks for a great weekend. All the evaluations were through the roof. You really connected with the group. Brother Joseph Guyon, COThe Oratory, Rock Hill, SC

Carl was well received by his audience here in Portland, OR. He demonstrated a broad depth of knowledge of his subject matter which he presents with high energy, scholarship, and good humor in an accessible format. He is attentive and personable with a willingness to spend time in one on one and group conversation in addition to his formal presentations. I heartily recommend him.The Reverend Charles CooperInstitute for Progressive Spirituality, Portland, OR

I have known Carl McColman for many years, as a friend, as a Lay Cistercian, as a frequent lecturer on our retreats in the retreat house, and in his capacity as a worker in our Abbey Store. I can attest to his fine character and his solid Catholic orthodoxy. He has a broad working knowledge of our faith and other religious traditions and has a wonderful way with people. I always enjoyed the many times I assisted him when he led retreats here at the monastery. He is an excellent and well informed teacher and has a gift for making people feel very much at home. I have never failed to be impressed with his generosity when it came to offering his time, his insights, his advice.Father James Behrens, OCSOMonastery of the Holy Spirit, Conyers, GA

Carl’s passion for contemplative prayer was on full display as he led our retreat. He used a variety of methods to help us understand ways of connecting with God. He is inspiring, challenging, and encouraging.The Reverend Gary R. GibsonSt. Paul United Methodist Church, Louisville, KY

Thank you again for sharing your story and your message with the Daughters of the King at St. Martin’s — it was outstanding. Everyone was listening and engaged.Martha-Sue BlytheDaughters of the King, St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church, Atlanta, GA

In the metro Atlanta area, Carl is available for events as brief as one hour. For retreats or longer events, he is available to travel and present to communities anywhere in the world.

If you would like Carl to visit your community, please contact him using this form. Thank you.

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Words of Wisdom

To be here with the silence of Sonship in my heart is to be a center in which all things converge upon you. That is surely enough for the time being.
Therefore, Father, I beg you to keep me in this silence so that I may learn from it the word of your peace and the word of your mercy and the word of your gentleness to the world: and that through me perhaps your word of peace may make itself heard where it has not been possible for anyone to hear it for a long time. Thomas Merton